We’re disappointed but emboldened – Amina

November 18, 2013 3:27 pm

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By CORRESPONDENT, Mohamed said Kenya was embolden by the great show of unity by African countries/PSCUKUWAIT, Nov 18 – The outcome of voting at the United Nations Security Council on the ICC was disappointing but not discouraging going by the show of solidarity and efforts from friendly countries, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has said.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Third Africa-Arab Summit currently underway in Kuwait, Mohamed said Kenya was embolden by the great show of unity by African countries.

“What we saw exhibited by African counties through the Africa Union is unity never seen again in the continent,” Mohamed said.

She said that going to the UN Security Council to have the cases deferred was the right thing to do under Article 16 of the Rome Statute. The Kenya position was informed by the need to address an urgent global phenomenon that is terrorism.

“As you might have realised, many of the countries that abstained during the vote have been at pains to explain their action and indeed those statements have been bordering on apologies,” Mohamed said.

She said the next stop is The Hague where the 12th session of the Assembly of State Parties (ASP) kicks off on Wednesday November 21-28, 2013.
This year’s ASP is dedicated to the African Union which has raised weighty issues that need to be addressed urgently.
Kenya is sending a strong delegation of among others top officials from the offices of the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecution and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

“We must engage state parties now and find a way forward for the Kenya cases. I have received many calls from members showing their solidarity and we are very optimistic of positive outcome.”

Among the state parties, Africa has a huge constituency of 34 countries all who support the position of Kenya through the African Union for deferral or better still outright withdrawal of the cases.

The International Criminal Court could alternatively wait until the accused leave office in respect of Kenya’s sovereignty.

During an Africa Union meeting in Ethiopia in October, it was unanimously agreed to petition the Security Council under Article 16 to defer the Kenyan cases.